Transsexual sports writer Mike Penner dead at 52

The Associated Press

Veteran Los Angeles Times sports writer Mike Penner, who attracted national attention when he announced two years ago that he was a transsexual and was changing his name to Christine Daniels, has died at age 52, the Times reported on its Web site.

The newspaper said Saturday Penner was found dead at his Los Angeles home and the cause of death was believed to be suicide. The date of death was not given.

Penner announced in 2007 that after struggling with his sexuality for more than 40 years he had decided to live life as a woman. Over the next several months he blogged about the experience.

He eventually returned to using the Mike Penner byline. He continued to work for the Times, writing a column called Totally Random.